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Hockey

Wilson to lead ship

The runaway choice for team MVP is the Owen Sound Attack's newest captain.

The Ontario Hockey League squad surprised its fans at Saturday's annual awards barbecue by naming its captain for the 2010- 2011 season.

The torch was passed to rugged winger Garrett Wilson by outgoing captain Marcus Carroll who presented Wilson with his #17 jersey with the C on the front.

"It's an honour to be named captain and Marcus is a great leader and he taught me a lot," the 19-year-old Elmvale native said Saturday. "It will be a tough job filling his shoes."

It will also be a tough job righting an Attack ship that floundered badly last season and missed the playoffs in what was supposed to be a long playoff run.

"Everyone is a year older and that really helps," said Wilson. "We need to get the young guys and the older guys into a more tight-knit group. I think that will help us win a lot more games."

It was a pretty good afternoon for Wilson, who needs to make more room on his mantle after taking home five awards including the Jerry Reid Memorial Award for most valuable player, the Kelsey's Cup for most player-of- the-game awards, the Becker Shoes Attacker-of-the-year award, the Society of Electrical Professionals players-choice award, and the Attack Pak fan club player-of-the-year award.

"He's the consummate team leader," said Attack coach Mark Reeds. "He brings everything you could ask for as a coach. He is the player I look to lead this team next year. As far as his work ethic, his commitment to the game, his commitment to doing what is asked of him, his commitment to his teammates, all of it makes him a great team leader. That's the type of leadership we're looking for."

Attack general manager Dale DeGray added: "He's a heck of a kid. I think he realizes what he can be and he's trying to get his game to to where he needs to get it to."

Rookie Geoffrey Schemitsch's storybook year turday as he took home two awards including the Harry Kazarian Award for most improved defenceman and the Harry Lumley Memorial Award as rookie of the year.

"I never really could have imagined this year turning out the way it did for me," said Schemitsch. "The older players really helped me a lot make the transition from midget."

Schemitsch is expected to be taken later this month in the National Hockey League entry draft.

"He really stepped up his game in the absence of a guy like David Kolomatis," said Reeds. "He really developed quickly. We're excited about him and his potential."

Overage Mike McGurk also took home two awards including the Pat McCreavy Award for being the team's unsung hero and the Red Leckie Award for contributions to the organization.

"When you play the game the way he does, he's going to get overlooked all the time," said DeGray. "He's a tremendous individual and he's turned himself into a hell of a defenceman. He was a lot of the glue for us."

Other awards presented Saturday included: the Tommy Burlington Award for the team's top scorer to Robby Mignardi; the Bill Myles Award as the top goalie, Scott Stajcer; the Ray McKelvie award for the team's first-round draft pick, Jarrod Maidens; Harold Sutherland Cup for top draft prospect, Joey Hishon; board of directors- Henry Kelso Award for scholastic player of the year, Steven Shipley; Dan Snyder Memorial Award for positive outlook and attitude, Brendan Childerley; Howard Hindman Award for contributions to the community, plus the Red Armstrong Award for team milestone, Marcus Carroll; team overage awards and Fan Club overage awards to Grant McGee, Carroll and McGurk.

SLAPSHOTS:The Attack held their summer fitness testing prior to the barbecue and DeGray said the veterans set the bar high for the incoming rookies ... The Attack are waiting to hear from assistant coach Brad Tiley if he will return for a second season.